Apparatus for air volume control in ventilating systems



J1me 1953 G. K. RAIDEIR ETAL 2,640,410

APPARATUS FOR AIR VOLUME CONTROL IN VENTILATING SYSTEMS Fil ed Dec. 2;1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l June 1953 G. K. RAIDER ETAL 2,640,410

APPARATUS FOR AIR voumg CONTROL m VENTILATING SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 2, 19493 Sheds-Sheet 2 -?a I v ,5; X 44 I re 6/ jizzfeniars eargeifia zder 6/46% 4am m mz June 2, 1953 G. K. RAIDER ETAL APPARATUS FOR AIR VOLUMECONTROL IN YEN'1 ILATING SYSTEMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 2, 1949 LLIJQLQ fiYVEHL 02-5 gel Eqz'der Zdzzzazzd J Gear lllllfttlllilllfllllPatented June 2, 1953 APPARATUS FOR AIR VOLUME CONTROL IN VENTILATINGSYSTEMS George K. Raider and Edmund J. Little, Chicago, 111., assignorsto The Pyle National Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New JerseyApplication December 2, 1949, Serial No. 130,734

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus forcontrolling air volume in a ventilating system and more particularlyrelates to improvements in a ventilating arrangement for a railroad caror the like wherein a plurality of enclosures are serviced by individualpressure-displacement panel units, a system in which a predeterminedpressure-volume relationship must be accurately maintained to produceuniform air distribution throughout the entire car.

According to the general features of the present invention, a railwaycar provided with a plurality of room enclosures, such as bedrooms,roomettes or compartments, as well as a corridor or an access aislerunning therethrough, is equipped with duct means extendingsubstantially the entire length of the car and adapted to carrypressurized, temperature-conditioned ventilating air. The duct means maybe considered as defining a primary plenum chamber.

The primary plenum chamber is provided with a plurality of outlets,there being at least one outlet for each enclosure within the railwaycar, and a total displacement air control valve is placed in control ofeach respective outlet to admit controlled volumes of air from theprimary plenum chamber through the outlets.

A secondary plenum chamber is provided in registry with each outlet, onewall of the secondary plenum chamber comprising a perforateddistribution plate which may conveniently form part of the interior ofthe enclosure to be ventilated. The air from the primary plenum chamberenters the secondary plenum chamber at reduced pressure and low velocityand may be further diffused by the distribution plate upon beingdisplaced into the enclosure. In this manner, ventilating air issupplied to each enclosure without detectable drafts and withoutobjectionable noise due to the sound of rushing air.

In the event that ventilating requirements for each individual enclosurevary, the occupant of the enclosure may adjust the individual panel unitto vary the volume of air admitted to the enclosure. It is contemplatedby the present invention that variations in pressure and volumeoccurring within the primary plenum chamber because of variableadjustments efiected in individual enclosures will be fully compensatedby controlling the volume of air supplied in the primary plenum chamberso as to maintain substantially constant the pressure of theair.delivered to the individual panel units.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method of ventilating aplurality of enclosures whereby the supply of ventilating air may bestabilized.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ventilatingsystem suitable for furnishing conditioned air to'a plurality ofenclosures and incorporating regulating means for controlling the volumeof air in the'system so as to maintain substantially constant thepressure of the air within the system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedventilating system arrangement for a railway car or the like wherein theoperation of the ventilating system may be substantially stabilizedthrough the controlled recirculation of ventilating air to a transitionduct communicating with an access aisle or with the atmosphere, or both.

Yet another object of thepresent invention is to provide improved volumecontrol apparatus incorporating a unique relief valve assembly.

It is believed that the methods of operation contemplated by the presentinvention will be best understood from the description of the apparatusprovided for practicing same.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the presentinvention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon makingreference to the detail description which follows and the annexed sheetsof drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional plan view of a railwaycar having a ventilating system according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational enlarged detail view with parts insection showing a pressuresensitive relief valve according to thepresent inan additional embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view' of a railway car showingadditional details of construction of the ventilating system of thepresent invention;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view with parts removed showingconstructional details of a remote control device employed; and

Figure 9 is a side View of the device shown in Figure 8.

As shown on the drawings:

Although the present invention finds useful application in other'environmentsi. it is of particular utility whenemployed in" connectionwith the ventilation of a plurality of crowded enclosures requiring theprovision of large volumes of ventilating air which must berfurnishedwithoutdetectable drafts and without objectional noisedue to the soundof rushing air.

A particularly advanta-geous type ofventilating system for accomplishingthese-ends isshownin Figures 1 and 7. A plurality of enclosures maysbeprovidedwith m a railway car indicated generally by the referencenumeral I I), the enclosures including aknumber of bedrooms indicatedibythe reference: numeral- I I and a numbenof-sma'ller compartments, suchas" roomettesxwhich areiindicated by the reference numeral I2.

An access 'aisle I3 runs alongthelengthmfi the car Ill'so that personsenteringPeitherend ofzthe car IOupo-n theplatform' ldl may gain.-entrance to the respective: enclosures:

In-the" construction? offthei car, duct means I5 are preferablyincorporated: in. the roof section of the car so as to define'aprimaryFplenum 0 chamber" I11 extendingt'substantially the entire lengthof thecar;

Duct means" I8 defining-'5 a transition chamber I 9 :may. be provided atoneend of-the duct means I 6 in' communication with' the: primary plenumchamber IT.

The transition chamber l9: may be provided with a fresh air intake 201extending through eachzside of the car I0to atmosphere andarecirculating. air'intake' 21' which; in. the embodi-- mentof Figure 1;is in communicationwithtthecorridor or aisle I Pressurizing means in rthe form of a motor" 22 and a fan 23 are empl'oyedzto furnishpressurized.

air from the transition. chamber to'the-primary plenum chamber [1;

It will be understoodthati the usual" condition:- ing. elements may be"provided'so that onlyclean' filtered temper'aturemonditionedair will? befur-- nished to-the primaryplenum chamber; I l; How'- ever, for thesakeof convenience" and clarity; corrdition'ing; elements are: shown:diagrammatically at 2'4";

The duct means I Bis provided-with a: plurality of outlets; there beingatv least oneoutlet for each bedroom- H and eachroomette l2:

Each enclosure may be provided with ai-panel" control unitP foreffe'cting: pressure-displace.- ment of ventilating air fromthe'primary'plenum chamber IT into the enclosure prop'en: Such panelcontrol units are preferably constructed along the lines moreparticularly described in connection with my copending application;Serial No. 4,368, fiJedJanuary'ZB} 1948', now U'I S1 Patent No.2,580,835.

A total displacement valve; including an ad'- justably movable valveplate 26= pivotally sup-- ported on a. hinge-27$ operates to" controlthe admission of air from the-primary plenum chamher I! through adiffuser 28 into a secondaryplenum chamber 29' defined by duct means 30.A perforated distribution plate 3I may form a common wall between thesecondary plenum chamber-29 andtheenclosure to. be ventilated;

the perforated distribution plate 3I forming a part of the decorativetreatment achieved within the enclosure.

Air entering the secondary plenum chamber 2e will be at reduced pressureand at low velocity and may be further diffused through the perforateddistribution: plate 31:: so: as; to' be" furnished to. the. enclosurewithout detectable drafts and without excess movement likely to producethe sound of rushing air.

The valve plate 25 is normally biased toward anropenzposition-bya spring47. However, the position of the valve plate 25 relative to the outlet.opening: may-be selectively varied by the oo- 1 cupant of: thezenclosurethrough a remote control device indicated generally by the referencenumeral 48 (Figures 6-9) A Z'bracliet I'Qmay be afiixed to the valveplate'ifiito cooperate with a wire 50 sheathed by a cable 5| leading tothe control device 48. The endtof the wireis connected to arack. 52 asat 53. The rack- 52 may be actuated'uponturning; a; knob fi l afiixedtoa'gear 56 meshed withmaclc 52. A: click springtl is provided tostabilizethe: gearassembly. Limit stops 58' arefastened to: the'wire 50 tocooperate with the abutmentil movable with the rack 52.

According to one embodiment. of thepresentinvention, the duct means lfiisprovidedxwith an additional: outlet 32 which isin communication: withthe corridor or aisle l3 (Figure 2). In orderthatthe ceiling portion-of:the carstructure in the corridor oraisle. [3. may be unbroken;theoutlet-32 is preferably filled .in .witha perforated panel 335 Apressure-sensitive relief valve is provided to controlthe flow ofairfrom theprimary plenum chamber II outwardly. throughthe outlet-.32 into:the corridor or aisle. I3;

In-the preferred embodiment.hereinshownand described,. the duct. meansit: comprises" a: duct-- which isgenerally rectangular. in crosssection. A valve plate 34; alsesubstantially rectangularin-crosssection, is provided, the. valve plate-having adimensionofgreater: length thanthecorresponding height'oftheduct Itsoas to bepositionable therein: on a plane displacedafrom the vertical to closethe: duct. and thereby control.- the flow" 0f air" therethroug'h.

Aihinge 36 is aifixed toone edge of the valve plate-t4 and to one wallof the ductmeans I6 so as to pivotally support the valve-plate 36: Theopposite edge ofthe valve plate 34 restson the opposite walLof. theductmeans- H5.

It-will-be apparent that one face of the valve plate 34. is exposed to.pressures developed within-the primary plenum chamber !'I. These pres--sureswill operate to pivotaliy displace the valve plate 3 against thecomponents'of force due tothe weight ofthe valve plate tending tohold-the. same in closed position.

In order. tosubstantially counterbalance; the valve. plate 34 andsensitize. the responsivenessthereof to the variationsin airpressureawithinr the" plenum chamber 2 1, a movably adjustablecounterweight 31 isprov-ided. The counterweight- 31 may be adjustablypositioned relative to. a. vertical reference plane passing through thepivot axis .of the-valve plate 34--so as*to:operate on.a radial. leverarm. extending. through the. pivot axis" Supportmeansmay be providedforthe counterweight 31 this. particular embodiment-- showing a web. 38attached inrfirmlassembly to the plate 34 andhavingranarcuate slotSB'asuit- ;-able for passing a. threaded stud 31a. there.-

through. The counterweight 31 may be adjustably positioned anywherealong the length of the slot 38a by tightening a nut 3112 on thethreaded stud 31a.

In operation, even though the volume controls in individual spaces arealtered, delivery ofventilating air to the other spaces will not bechanged because the valve plate 34 will open in response to incrementalincreases in pressure within the primary plenum chamber I! to dump thenecessary quantity of air into the corridor or aisle [3 through theoutlet 32 to maintain air pressure in the primary plenum chamber I!substantially constant.

By virtue of this arrangement, the corridor 0r aisle [3 functionsvirtually as a recirculating line since the volume of air dumped throughthe outlet 32 may eventually find its way back through the corridorintake 2! and into the transition chamber I9.

In Figure 4, a modification of the arrangement shown in Figure 1 isillustrated wherein the duct means I6 is provided with an outlet 39leading directly to the transition chamber 19. A valve 40 is placed incontrol of the outlet 39 and may be actuated by a suitable motormechanism in dicated generally by the reference numeral 4| operatingthrough a linkage 42. The motor mechanism 4! may be made responsive topressure variations by energizing the motor mechanism 4| throughappropriate conductors 43 leading to a pressure-sensitive control 44. Inthis embodiment, excess volumes of air will be bypassed to thetransition chamber [9 upon any incremental increase of pressure withinthe primary plenum chamber H.

In the embodiment of Figure 5, valve "means 46 are provided to controlthe volume of air admitted to the primary plenumchamber by closing thevalve means 46 on the intake side of the blower 23. The valve means 46,in one preferred form, may be defined by a damper of the louver type andmay be controlled, as before, through a linkage 42 operated by a motormechanism 4| connected by conductors 43 to a pressure-sensitive control44.

In the embodiment of Figure 6, the individual control devices 48 of eachenclosure are connected by a mechanical linkage to to a rheostat 6!. Therheostats 6| are incorporated in the energization circuit of the motor'22 shown by the conductors 62 to selectively vary the speed of themotor in response to variable demand requirements, thereby tending tomaintain the pressure within the primary plenum chamber l1 constant.

Although persons skilled in the art might suggest minor modifications toour preferred embodiments, it should be understood that we do notpropose to be limited to the precise details described merely for thesake of clarity but wish to embrace within the scope of this patent allsuch modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope ofour contribution to the art.

We claim as our invention:

1. A ventilating system for a railway car or the like comprising aplurality of enclosures to be ventilated disposed along the length ofthe car, an access aisle therefore, a transition duct being incommunication with the access aisle and the atmosphere, a main air ductalong the length of the car, means to supply ventilating air from thetransition duct to the main air duct under pressure, a plurality ofcontrol means for admitting varying volumes of air to each of theenclosures, and valve means responsive to pressure variations locatedbetween the main air duct and the access aisle to dump controlledquantities of ventilating air into said access aisle thereby toautomatically maintain pressure within the main air duct at asubstantially constant value.

2. A ventilating arrangement for a railway car of the type having aplurality of room enclosures and an access aisle therefor, comprisingduct means along the length of the car to carry pressurized ventilatingair, a plurality of control means to selectively admit variable volumesof air to each of the enclosures from the duct means, andpressure-sensitive relief valve means between the duct means and theaccess aisle of the car to discharge air from the duct means into theaccess aisle in response to pressure variations within the duct means.

3. A ventilating arrangement for a railway car of the type having aplurality of room enclosures and an access aisle therefor, comprisingduct means along the length of the car to carry pressurized ventilatingair, pressurizing means having an inlet in communication with the accessaisle, conditioning means associated with the pressurizing means, aplurality of control means to selectively vary the volume of airadmitted to each of the enclosures from the duct means, andpressure-sensitive relief valve means between the duct means and theaccess aisle of the car to recirculate air from the duct means throughthe access aisle to the pressurizing means in response to pressurevariations within the duct means.

4. A ventilating system for a railway car having an access aisle and aplurality of enclosures to be ventilated disposed along the length ofthe car, a transition duct means at substantially atmospheric pressureand communicating with said access aisle, a main air duct along thelength of the car, pressurizing means to supply ventilating air to themain air duct under pressure and being in communication with saidtransition duct means to obtain a portion of the supply of ventilatingair therefrom, a plurality of control means for admitting varyingvolumes of air to each of the enclosures, and valve means responsive topressure variations, said valve means being located between the main airduct and the access aisle to automatically return controlled quantitiesof ventilating air to said transition duct means and thereby maintainpressure within the main air duct at a substantially constant value.

5. A ventilating arrangement as defined in claim 2 wherein said reliefvalve plate means more particularly includes a pivotally mounted valveplate extending across the interior of said duct means and providing areactor face subject to duct pressure, and adjustable counterweightmeans connected to said plate for selectively pivotally counterbalancingsaid plate for communication of said access aisle with said ductpressure at selected pressure values.

6. A ventilating arrangement as defined in claim 5 wherein saidcounterweight means includes a web carried by the valve plate and be ingsubstantially vertically disposed in a plane transverse to that definedby the valve plate and a mass supported by said web for adjustmentrelative to the pivot axis of the valve plate.

'7. A ventilating arrangement as defined in claim 2, said valve meancomprising a valve plate oi greater cfdss sctibml area than the" ductme'an's and being pwbfial-ly supported: from one wall 6-1 the ducfi111663115 f6 ndrnfeflly lie across the ductjmesms on a: manedisplacedirrom a, v81- tical referefice plhfi extending tz'iroughthe-pivot axis; 21 Wet? carnied by the valv plate an'd being,

to' selectively variably wounfirbaflande the-weight of the valve plate,whereby the' valve": plate will: be piVGtEl-IY difiplchd updnpidterminedi increases 6 in pres'sur witliin the duct means;

GEORGE- RAIIDER; EDMUND-u.

References Cited in thefile of this" patent UNITED STATES- PATENTSNumber Name Date Whitlatch Mar. 22, 1910 Pfahl- Aug.21, 1-934.- Stacey,Jr. 6621. Nov. 27, 1934: Wagner July 21,1936 Heaton et a1 Dec. 22, 1936-Anderson Apr. 25,1939- Grant Feb; 20, 1940- Crawford et a1; Aug. 27-,1940- Lewis Oct; 29", 1940' Leadbetter Aug; 5 1941 Murphy Dec. 23; 1941Damerel Dec. 8,, 1942- 01215 Aug. 24, 1943 Hallinam Nov. 30, 1948=

